Last minute holidays are once again on the up and back in vogue according to the latest consumer reports. The report indicates that up to 14% of holidays across the June 2010 period were booked only four weeks before the departure date. In the U.K, holidaymakers are eager to take advantage of the rising Pound value against the weakening Euro. More competition between companies, car rental firms and travel operators has helped boost tourism, but low consumer confidence is still heavily affecting the industry.
According to the BBC last minute package deals across the Mediterranean are being cut by up to a third. A standard last minute deal to Crete is now roughly 29% less and holidays to Turkey almost 24% cheaper. With the prices dropping across Europe, more and more Brits are reconsidering taking that all important summer break. According to the BBC poll short-haul holidaymakers were most likely to head to Turkey, Greece, Egypt, the Canary and Balearic Islands and mainland Spain.
The good news is that tour operators are not the only ones to benefit from the increase in tourism. With cheaper holidays across the continent and a strengthening pound, Brits are now able to spend that little bit extra on the hols which helps to boost car hire firms, hotels, local businesses, bars and restaurants. According to John McEwan of the travel company Abta “With prices having fallen in the eurozone and an improved exchange rate on last year, holidaymakers will get a pleasant surprise when they arrive in resort and head for local restaurants and bars.”
The resurging European economy is a welcome site for holiday companies and those who operate within the continents tourism trade. A number of events earlier in the year including, financial problems, the collapse of the Greek economy, Channel Tunnel problems, aviation disputes and the eruptions of Mt Eyjafjallajökull created a great deal of chaos, but fortunately it looks like the tourism trade is again back on its feet.
Recent Comments